an incentive to the living to follow after their virtues."

We have been induced to collect these views and conclusions of the society, as adopted by the above Yearly Meetings on this continent, in order to satisfy ourselves of the principles and motives which operated to introduce the custom of preparing memorials for deceased Friends, as documents of the society. Incentives to follow virtuous examples may be as useful to the members of society, especially the youth, at this as at any former period. Survivors may be profited by recording the "living services" and dying expressions of those who have travelled the same probationary path. Whence is it, then, that so few of these memorials of deceased Friends have been prepared and communicated for the benefit, help and encouragement of survivors?

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From a memorandum made by a concerned Friend who attended the Yearly Meeting in Philadelphia, in the year 1790, we learn that a large number of Memorials were produced and read in that meeting: "the reading of which," the writer remarks, put me in mind of our neglect concerning" several deceased Friends, whose names were mentioned. This "neglect" may have grown into a society habitwhile the substance and principles of the discipline remain unchanged.

We wish not to encourage any thing like eulogizing the dead, or garnishing the sepulchres of the righteous; we do not desire their characters and actions, however excellent, to be held up to view by way of ostentation, or mere honour to their memories. We believe the true respect to departed virtue, is rendered by following their examples who have strug

gled through the toils and trials of life, and "kept the faith" unto the end. We consider with the poet, He mourns the virtuous dead, who lives as they desired.

Since the year 1790, though a considerable number of valuable memorials have been written, and some of them published, yet a much larger number of ministers, elders and other Friends, have gone from works to rewards, whose examples, whose "living services and dying sayings," might have been profitable to survivors, had the original concern of society been kept alive, and monthly meetings or individual members, been faithful in the discharge of their duties on this subject. But how many of these have passed away, and their works, and labours of love, and instructive examples, together with their memories, seem fast passing into oblivion! Where is a record of the life and religious character, and conspicuous usefulness in society, of a Rebecca Jones, of Philadelphia? Where shall we inquire for a memorial concerning Huson Langstroth, Sarah Harrison and others of the same city? Where are written testimonies concerning Benjamin Clark, Rebekah Wright, John Tatum, and many others in New Jersey? We might pursue the inquiry in relation to many public characters of whom we have heard or read; but there are doubtless many examples of "living services," of upright walking, of reformed lives, and of "dying sayings," or testimonies to the redeeming, preserving power of Truth, among those in more obscure paths of life,-among those who were struggling through the toils and trials of this probationary scene, and among children and youth. Why are not these more frequently held up to the

view of survivors? Leaving this and the preceding questions for others to answer who feel concerned for the real welfare of society, we introduce the following

MEMORIAL

From Makefield monthly meeting, in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, concerning WILLIAM TAYLOR.

man.

This our beloved friend was born in the year 1774, of respectable parents, Timothy and Sarah Taylor, who both deceased while he was young. In the early part of his life, he participated in some of the amusements of the day, yet he sustained among his friends and acquaintances the character of an innocent young About the twenty-second year of his age he was thrown from a horse, by which one of his legs was broken, so that he never recovered from lameness. This dispensation of affliction, which confined him nearly a year, was, through the effectual workings of the Lord's power, sanctified to him, and brought him a humble suppliant at the throne of Divine grace, where like Jacob he entered into covenant with a covenant-keeping God.

In the year 1802, he entered into the marriage covenant with Anna, the daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth Kirkbride, and settled in the village of Dolington, near this meeting; where he honestly and usefully followed the business of a country merchant, conscientiously avoiding the trade in spirituous liquors, or in anywise using them as a drink. Thus following the apostle's excellent doctrine, to be "diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord,” he was blessed in his labours; and, growing in grace, and increasing in obedience and dedication to the

manifestations of Truth, he was prepared for the work of the ministry, so that about the thirty-fourth year of his age he was called to bear a public testimony to the efficacy of that Power with which he had been baptized; and in self-abasement he gave up. to the heavenly vision. His preaching was not with. enticing words of man's wisdom, but in the simplicity and power of Truth. Having received a gift in the ministry, he was careful to exercise it to the honour of the great Giver; and not running into words without life, his ministry was preserved pure and edifying.

He was a sincere lover of peace and unity, and endeavoured to promote them on all occasions, and when he discovered a breach he laboured privately for the restoration of harmony. He was an advocate for the discipline and order established amongst us, and was careful when a concern arose in his mind with clearness to pay a religious visit, to lay his prospect before his friends for their consideration and concurrence,-esteeming the unity of his christian brethren next in importance to, and in such cases inseparably connected with, the Divine approbation.

He was very useful in meetings for discipline, especially in treating with offenders, his mind being covered with that charity which is the clothing of the redeemed soul;—holding out this important view, that the end and design of christian discipline was not only to preserve the society sweet and clean, but to restore the lost sheep of the house of Israel: hence he was prepared to meet the returning prodigal, though he might seem afar off, and to offer him encouragement and consolation. Thus the Divine light that was graciously vouchsafed him, not being hid

under a bed, nor under a bushel,-but placed upon a candlestick, it gave light to them that were around him, commanding the love and respect of his neighbours of other denominations, and more especially of his friends, by whom he was employed in important services, which he performed with punctuality, diligence and care. As a husband, he was loving and faithful; as a parent, tender and affectionate; being concerned to bring up his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; as a neighbour, he was kind and obliging: thus adorning his christian profession as an example of the believers in faith, in patience, and in purity.

Observing the rapid increase of that cloud which had for some time hung over our society, this our beloved friend was brought, with many of his cotemporaries, to weep as between the porch and the altar, and in humble supplication to adopt the language, "Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thy heritage to reproach." He saw with deep sorrow the division that was taking place in our religious society, and anticipated as a consequence the scattering of the flock. At this awful crisis he was brought under close trial and exercise; and being sincerely concerned to know the will of the great Head of the church, he was impressed with the necessity of supporting the principles and testimonies of our early Friends, who were concerned to guard against the two extremes to which the militant church has ever been exposed,-an antichristian domination on the one hand, and an irresponsible independence on the other. Being confirmed in these views he continued closely united with the body of Friends, and was peculiarly serviceable at that trying period,-not only within the